JUNE 2004 NEWS

  • June 26 am Happy Saturday. This one is important of you've got a bunch of ole junk laying around the house. This is the last day for our Metal Recycling Days this year. Site location is over at Pierson Lumber Co. get rid of the junk and do it legally.
  • June 26 am Happy 17th Birthday Wishes to Fallon Pierson
  • June 26 am  The Communicator made it to the news stands yesterday afternoon around 4 pm. 20 pages of the best Clayberry info ever.
  • June 26 am  We know it's a good one because the irate phone calls and emails have begun. For instance, here's an excerpt: This email is in response to a recent posting to your web site.  While your unprofessional and biased nature of writing has been a nuisance to the county for quite some time now, a recent posting carries with it a serious suggestion.  In reference to the recent weapon brandishing regarding Mr. Haynie,  you say, "If you're going to pull the trigger, do it, I've got work to do!"  Those are words of encouragement for someone to commit a violent act.   This is reckless irregard to Mr. Haynie.   While you have the right to publish your paper, you also have a responsibility to print and present the truth, unbiased by your opinion.  You also have a responsibility to protect the public trust.  Encouraging someone to commit a violent act is in no way responsible. Always love satisfied web clickers! Of course if the emailer reads this edition of The Communicator, she'll see, Haynie himself said those words she finds so offensive.
  • June 26 am   Be sure to check out the EVENTS page for stuff to do like tonight's Summer Jam 2004 show at Two Run. Free too!
  • June 26 am With the conservatives firmly in control in Washington. The FCC has been fleexing their muscles to eliminate free speech like potty mouth on the radio and TV. Now VP Dick Cheny has used the F word in word. For details, on Cheny, click, WASH HIS MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP.
  • June 26 am There have been 968 coalition deaths, 851 Americans, 59 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 18 Italians, one Latvian, six Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and six Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of June 24, 2004
  • June 26 am  How about a guy arrested 23 times for DUIA. Click DRUNK DRIVER
  • June 26 am Enjoy the weekend and have some fun while the weather is nice.
  • June 25 am  We're working to get the Communicator out this afternoon. Until then, no new posts.  But our front page story is a guy who catches his wife with another man and burns down the house trailer. His house trailer. Sound good? Lots more this afternoon around 4pm
  • June 25 am Did we mention we've got the story of Coach Jim Haynie telling a teenager with a pistol: If you're going to pull the trigger, do it, I've got work to do!
  • June 25 am The Communicator, your only source for REAL news in Clayberry!!!
  • June 24 am Look around. Need to get rid of an old frig? Hot water tank? Maybe that clunker up on cinder blocks that'll never run again? Teenagers? This is Metal Recycling Days in Clayberry. Get rid of that junk NOW. See EVENTS page now.
  • June 24 am  It's always good to hear of a West Virginian excelling in their job. Here's the story of WV's own 24 year old puter wizard, Jason Smathers. If you're getting tons of emails (MB) you really need to read this link. Click 30 million customers for the scoop.
  • June 24 am It has been 26 looooooooooooooooooong years for Kim Sams. Happy Anniversary.
  • June 24 am Tuesday night's School Board meeting was fun to watch. Bruce Hollis, state Director of Gear Up, provided accolades and more. The more was the problem for Super Linkinooooger. Hollis provided stats on how dismal: the going to college rate is, the poor college retention rate, and the huge number of college kids having to take bonehead math classes just to get into college.
  • June 24 am Link squirmed. Nothing worries the Linkster more than when the truth gets out. When those same figures were printed in the Communicator a couple months back, well, he could just pass off the facts as "A Smear Campaign by The Communicator" or say "just consider the source." The problem comes when Hollis, a state top dog,  verifies to the Board,  the same dismal numbers.
  • June 24 am Trying to earn his high dollar keep, Linkinooooger did all the damage control he could to play down the facts. Full details in Friday's Communicator
  • June 24 am  The head massage man in the School System is of course Kenneth Tanner. Tanner is paid handsomely to reshuffle the numbers, test scores, and such. To paint the prettiest picture. Often in that little newspaper over in Clay, Tanner puts in some headline like: 30% of our 4th students performed well above some basic skill level!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • June 24 am Sounds nice until you read the report for yourself and realize our county performed way below other counties in the state and in fact, 70% of our students had less than basic English skills. Is the glass half full or half empty. In this case, it's half empty.
  • June 24 am During the last Commission meeting, Commissioner Bragg came in all washed out looking, without enthusiasm, sort of in the dumps lookin'.  About that Mathew Bragg post from yesterday....
  • June 24 am  When did Bragg ask about taking Sheriff Fields' job? Answer:  Last Monday before the County Commission meeting. With Sheriff Fields making no plans to bail out early and give Bragg the Sheriff's post, here's the question. Email your opinion please: Do you think Bragg will try a write in campaign this fall?
  • June 24 am And Yes we're on top of the June 17th story from Ivydale and the latest from Murder Mountain. Hope to have a post later today if possible.
  • June 22 am Rose Louise Daniels, 90 see FUNERAL page
  • June 22 am We forgot to say Happy Birthday to Rose Cantrell yesterday. One day late but Happy Naval Day Rose
  • June 22 am It's been quiet too long in Clayberry. Usually when that happens, something is being kept quiet. Such is the case now. First some background
  • June 22 am We had 11 Demorat contenders for Sheriff during the May 2004 election. Randy Holcomb came out on top with Mathew Bragg lagging back in 3rd place followed by Jim Paxton. With Holcomb on the ballot in Nov. as well as Republicat Dave Mullins, Paxton ( that's the senior Paxton) decided to run a write in campaign. It seems another is trying to get back on the ballot.
  • June 22 am One more bit of background. Sheriff Fields is 600 years old and a couple weeks back went for his annual medical exam. Being older than most rocks, the Doc made Fields were a heart monitor to check things out. Around the Courthouse went the rumor that the High Badge was in bad shape and ready to resign.  Now for the story clickers
  • June 22 am County Commissioner and two time Sheriff candidate Mathew Bragg went to the Sheriff and asked when he was planning to bail out. Bragg told the aged one that he wanted to be appointed to the Top Cop spot if the Sheriff was resigning. Guess who appoints a replacement? You got it, the County Commission.
  • June 22 am Bragg's plan was to get himself appointed to the post and then run a write in campaign to garner the position for the full term.
  • June 22 am Was is the key word. Sheriff Fields says he ain't going nowhere unless they carry him out of the courthouse! Full details in this Friday's Communicator
  • June 22 am If more people sign up as write in candidates in Nov, we could have just one dandy election night. How long will it take to count ballots in Nov? A looooong time. WIth one write in candidate already signed up, each ballot will have to be hand counted since the auto ballot machine cannot detect write in's.
  • June 22 am We mentioned Tonya Salisbury was picked up Friday night. Salisbury is awaiting her July trial and is charged with the murder of her husband, Chad. Yesterday before Judge Alsop, her bond was revoked after failing drug tests, and off to jail she went.
  • June 22 am Also from yesterday, a pre trail hearing was held in the Town vs Tammy Duffield sticky finger case. Look for much more pre trail stuff over the next many months.
  • June 22 am What happened to Monday's Filcon Inc Auction? According to attorney Wayne King, there were no bidders and he expects another date to be set for  July 6th. Of course the question remains: If our Business Development Authority received a $50,000 grant to repurchase the Clay County Bank lien, why didn't they get the land and building?
  • June 22 am Chaz and Tammy D, it's time to get back to work!
  • June 22 am Tonight the School Board meets at 6 in their Office on Gump Street
  • June 22 am Very quiet in Clay. There are few stories floating around and even fewer verifications. Know something? Let us know!
  • June 22 am  There have been 962 coalition deaths, 845 Americans, 59 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 18 Italians, one Latvian, six Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and six Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of June 21, 2004   For the latest on 8 more deaths, click BLOOD FOR OIL for details
  • June 22 am  So, you're covered by an HMO and they decide you don't deserve your doctor's recommended treatment. As a result of the HMO money changers giving the orders instead of your doctor, you are denied procedures and medications. Can you sue the HMO and win a big settlement for damages? No way says the US Supreme Court Monday. Click HMO WINS for more. And Yes, West Virginia is one of the states with similar laws on the books.
  • June 22 am And here's a winner. The first thing the badges tell you, you have the right to remain silent. According to the most recent US Supreme Court decision handed down this week, you can remain silent but then they can haul your butt off to jail! True True True! For details on how even more of your rights have been eroded thanks to the Dubbya's Patriot Act, click Down the Tubes.
  • June 22 am Last call for event and classified listings in this week's Communicator is Thursday morning.
  • June 21 pm In Clay County, this is a holiday. This West Virginia Day. With the Courthouse closed, traffic is much lighter and much  quieter. With reduced humidity and a light breeze moving the air around, the feel is good and the living is easy. Love those summer days
  • June 21 pm Tonight's School Board meeting on Gump Street has been rescheduled for Tuesday evening at 6pm at the Bd office.
  • June 21 pm The death of Chad Salisbury remains an open case with wife Tonya charged with murder in the death. The case is now scheduled for a July hearing. Friday night, Ms Salisbury was picked up for violating bail agreements and put in the slammer.
  • June 21 pm For those trying to listen to 101.7, Clay's very own WYAP-LP FM radio station, adjustments and testing are continuing. Translation: It may be a few more days before the thing works properly!
  • June 20 am To all the Dads out there in cyberspace land, this is your day men. Happy Father's Day
  • June 20 am Before the weekend wrap up, how about a story of a librarian taking on Dubbya and the Patriot Act. Click SLIPPERY SLOPE for a return of sanity
  • June 20 am From the week that was..... There have been 954 coalition deaths, 837 Americans, 59 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, one Hungarian, 18 Italians, one Latvian, six Poles, one Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and six Ukrainians, in the war in Iraq as of June 17, 2004  The sting of reality has set in. Every bomb we land results in even more hostility against our men and women in service.
  • June 20 am   With Courthouse budget cuts and employee lay off time coming in less than 2 weeks, Sheriff Harald Fields said he was going to buck the lay off trend and instead work his men until the $ ran out (Oct) and THEN lay the road patrol unit off until more money becomes available. Translation: 2 months of NO local law enforcement is coming unless the County Commission comes up with some additional loot.
  • June 20 am Throughout this week and last, a small band of volunteers and high school kids worked their butts off cleaning up the Elk River. They yanked and pulled as they wrestled tractor tires, washers and chairs.. end result, tons of ugly trash removed and scores of discarded tires are out of sight and headed for recycling. The youth of our county showed the old farts, anything can be done! Nice job kids
  • June 20 am   You can say what you want about law enforcement in this county, but Thursday night, they got their act together and nabbed two more thugs re handed. Just before midnight Town Cop Butcher eye witnessed a Metheney and King busting car windshields, windows, and door mirrors out with a ball bat. Warrants were issued before noon Friday.
  • June 20 am Without fanfare, work continued on the new Ginos eatery at Two Run. One week into the build, the foundation is completed and the brick work is well under way.
  • June 20 am Our most notorious agency Clay Development Corp headed off to the beach as the week ended. According to CDC's Janet Fitzwater, of the 28 headed off to Myrtle, all but 4 of the travelers were senior citizens. When we posted the info, emails came in with words of doubt,
  • June 20 am  The Clayberry members of the "They said it couldn't be done club" were proven wrong this week as membership supported non profit WYAP-LP radio turned on their brand new 200 watt transmitter Thursday evening at 8:00pm. Supporting change in the county, the people's station hosted their first "Summer Jam" spotlighting local talents Saturday night June 19th.
  • June 19 am Need your car washed? Head over to Go Mart this morning. The money goes to a good cause. This evening beginning at 6 enjoy some toe tapping, hand clapping LIVE music going on at the radio station. Fun Fun Fun   See EVENTS page for details
  • June 19 am Get well wishes extended to ole droopy drawers, Coach Ron Sirk who's in the hospital. Improve soon! It's a lot more fun raising a stink with a healthy person.
  • June 19 am Ditto for local attorney Kevin Duffy who's up North for surgery. Get well soon.
  • June 19 am 4:37 Friday afternoon, over the scanner came a call for badges at the DHHR building on Main Street. "they have a subject out of control" Unit 4 replied and responded within a minute or so. Those quick response times ( or response at all) may be a thing of the past unless County Commission comes up with additional moneys by July 1st. With County Clerk Judy Moore saying last Monday that no new funds had arrived, budget cuts call for a reduction in force within each Courthouse office. Sheriff Fields told the CCC he planned to work his road patrol team for 4 months and then as the money runs out, lay them ALL off!
  • June 19 am  Down below is the blow by blow from Thursday night's criminal activity. We have a followed up:    By Friday 11:30am clerk Lisa Slack had 16 arrest warrants typed up and ready to serve on Lyndon B Metheney and Thomas Franklin King Jr. Each are charged with 8 counts.
  • June 19 am Here's the way Chief of Police Butcher had it worded on the police report: Metheney drove the silver Dodge K car as King leaned out of the passenger side window and used a sliver ball bat to break vehicle glass and mirrors on the back streets of Clay. Frank Childers and his brother were sitting on a front porch and say the senseless act in progress. Some where in there, Frank Childers ripped off a shot.
  • June 19 am If you're going to break the law, you ought not let the cops see you doing it. As the K car turned off of Carr Street on Main Street, Buckshot saw King bash cars going down Main Street!
  • June 19 am So who's cars were damaged?  a blue dodge owned by Leslie White; a 1996 red Chevy owned by  William Johnson; Hawkie Keener's white Metro;  1990 Cavalier owned by Jack White; a 1997 Chevy Malibu; Jeff Davis' green Jeep;  Frank Childers III truck;  and Connie Childers 98 Lumina.
  • June 19 am Lots of people give Butcher double H as the town cop. In this case, having a badge on duty sure came in handy and allowed for super quick response time by the badges.
  • June 19 am Enjoy the weekend and come out for the Summer Jam at WYAP-LPs station tonight at 6pm
  • June 18 am   Mrs. Antoinette M. "Moose Bear" "Moose" Quarequio, see FUNERAL page
  • June 18 am  HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY TO  MY MOM  LISA AND STEP DAD JERRY ON SAT. JUNE 19TH.  LOVE YOU GUYS A LOT. JAMA
  • June 18 am how about some ambulance service statistics. since April 7 thru June 11th: Calls dispatched - 247; transports - 166; Refusals - 38; Fire Dept Asst calls - 7; Calls canceled - 7; DOAs - 2; Calls given to other agencies - 27; Calls where we had back up (picked up a medic from other agencies - 10.
  • June 18 am   From hard rains to muggy temps, the weather has been the topic in Clayberry this week. Corn knocked down. Beans with wilt or rot.... With few public meetings to watch, it's been quiet until last night. Here's what we heard and saw last night
  • June 18 am  Over the scanner: "Shots fired around the High Street apartments". 11:29pm  several windshields broke out with a ball bat!
  • June 18 am Night owl Town Cop Buckshot Butcher alerted badges of a silver Dodge K car high tailing it out of town. Butcher, " It's heading for Two Run" Buckshot shouted out that the occupants were Tommy King and a Metheney. [didn't catch the first name clickers, sorry)
  • June 18 am  11:30pm  911 came back and said Franklin Childers called and said he had fired the shot and wanted to talk to law enforcement. Split second later, Unit 2 ( That's Jeff Rider) "10-4"
  • June 18 am 11:32 pm Buckshot Butcher came full blast with tiny blue lights flashing thru the Two Run intersection heading up Maysel hill. In the mean time, 2 green shirt cruisers were parked in the Go Mart parking lot. Back over the scanner, Butcher ( that's Unit 10) reiterated the part about King and Metheny and the sliver Dodge car.
  • June 18 am Unit 2 said he was across the Dundon bridge and looking for the vehicle.
  • June 18  am   11:36 pm last night: "They may have grown wings and flew away!" About the same time, the green shirts left the Go Mart lot and headed North on Rt 4.
  • June 18 am  Around 11:40 Unit 2 reported that he had found the ball bat most likely used to beat in the car windows on the back street of Clay. 11:41 Unit 2, " They're probably going out the ridge to Ivydale.. That's where he lives.."
  • June 18 am With Buckshot heading out a back road Unit 2 to Buck, "Turn on your cell phone"   11:45pm last night over the scanner came a report of another window knocked out ( a Davis subject it sounded like) but from a different location.
  • June 18 am  By midnight, the badges were doing the paper work on several acts of destruction.   Should have had your scanner on last night.. Pretty Cool stuff.
  • June 17 am Hello world. Clay County has something new. A chance to see Clay in real time. Our local radio station has set up a web cam at the station in Two Run. Anyone around the world can now see life in the broadcast booth as Samantha, Brittany , Fonda, and Avis work the microphones. For a look see, go to  our home page, click the WYAP button, once you've made the trip, at the bottom of their page, click the Live Eye button. New pic every 30 seconds.
  • June 17 am Away from the public's eye, a small group of high schoolers and volunteers have been working their behinds off to clean up 86 miles of river bank along the Elk River. they've been at it for 8 days and finish up this Saturday. They are about 1/2 done with only 2 days left.  It's time to give a hand. Can you volunteer for Friday? How about just clean up along your section of river bank? The time is now while those young kids are full of vim and vigor and willing to do the heavy work. See EVENTS page for contact numbers. The time is now.
  • June 17 am  It's quiet in Clayberry clickers. No one new has filed for a write in campaign. haven't even heard of any major vandalism this week.
  • June 17 am With the temps in the 80s, it's time to head to the Clay County Pool. It's open you know
  • June 17 am Monday evening, the CAEZ advertised an election to select a representative to be on the CAEZ Board. Monday evening no one showed, not even the County Commission. Mardel Nevans is interested in the post but had other commitments that evening. Just as well, if she had showed, there still wouldn't have been an election, takes more than one!
  • June 17 am Here's one you probably want to book mark. Probably the best most complete weather service yet. Every thing  from wind chill factors, to volcanic activities. Live images too. Click COMPLETE WEATHER for a look.
  • June 17 am  We checked our counter at 1:20 this morning. 19 of you had already looked for an update by then. Usually updates are completed and view able by around 1:30am.  You were just a little bit quick on the draw.
  • June 17 am Ready for some lunch. Over at the Senior Center at Two Run, the menu includes: Italian style cutlet, spaghetti, veggies, salad, garlic bread and frosted Jell-O for dessert. YUM  YUM! You don't have to be a senior to enjoy some great food.
  • June 16 am Kathleen Mae Drake, 80, of Ivydale see FUNERAL page
  • June 16 am   Thomas Jefferson Adkins, see FUNERAL page
  • June 16 am First some brain food.
  • June 16 am  For the official US time click EXACT. Be sure to book mark so you can check back easily.
  • June 16 am We court marshall soldiers for following orders. How about a look at who gave the orders to torture prisoners in Iraq. Click FROM THE TOP DOWN for more
  • June 16 am  For those think the Patriotic Act is OK. How would you like all your personal DNA records collected for about any serious crime. Click IT MAY BE COMING
  • June 16 am And finally from the outside world, Colin Powell has retracted a bunch of his terrorism statement. Click VERY EMBARRASSING
  • June 16 am To add one more tidbit from Monday's Commission meeting ...  Bomont resident Frank Kish asked the three blind mice to ban ATV use from ALL roads in the county as well as a countywide leash law.  In Kish's letter to the CCC, safety concerns were raised.   No decision was made on either request but unless locals provide Triplett, Sams, and Bragg with input, who knows which way they may decide. If safety of minors is important, why not arrest parents for child endangerment every time Jr. acts like an idiot on a 4 wheeler? Simple and already on the books
  • June 16 am Here's the rumor: Early this morning 28 people from Clay Development Corp will head out to Myrtle Beach on an all expense paid Senior Citizen trip. Of the 28, 24 are employees of the senior service provider!  We talked with upstairs secretary Janet Fitzwater Tuesday afternoon. According to Ms F, that's all a bunch of whodoo. Truth: 28 are going for 5 nights and 6 days to Myrtle Beach. Fund raisers have provided enough to cover the room costs with seniors spending their own $ for food. Of the 28 only 4 ,including one nurse, are from the CDC staff AND AND AND  any staffer that's going will be using their own vacation time to do so.
  • June 16 am So much for that street rumor. If anybody hears any different , email us
  • June 16 am Last Wednesday, ex Senator Randy Schoonover made it out of the hospital. Yesterday, Randy was seen tooling around the county on his own. Channel 3 TV news interviewed him Monday and TV 8 plans an episode to be filmed Wed in the am.
  • June 16 am We had a chance to ask about Schoony's ATV crash as has those TV folks. Schoony maintains no law would have prevented is wreck and near death experience. Schoony said he was hauling too much gear on his ATV and HE screwed up, not the ride!! Although not his exact words: You can't legislate common sense!!!
  • June 15 am  Sylvia Helen Brannon Metheney, see FUNERAL page
  • June 15 am Talk about a humdinger of a meeting. The County Commission meeting Monday was full of good stuff.  Get your coffee, danish, go pee..... Ready? Set? Start reading.....
  • June 15 am Magistrate Boggs asked the County Commission to cough up nearly $2000 to pay for damages done while a community service worker with a weed whacker spewed gravel on the sides of his car parked behind the Courthouse. Boggs wants the $ to cover the cost of a complete paint job. Our CCC ( Yes Mathew Bragg was in attendance) made no decision. Commissioner Sams suggested Boggs contact his own insurance provider. That didn't go over so well with Boggs. His neck started red around the edges too.
  • June 15 am While asking the Commission to restore full phone coverage ( 2 lined were removed in a cost savings move), Boggs mentioned he HIMSELF had to run the sweeper in his office last week. The crowd roared with a big aaaaaagh,  poor Jeff.
  • June 15 am So what difference would high speed internet make in Clayberry. Answer: A bunch!!!! Around the country, the big push has been to get up the speed. Best of all, Clayberry won't be the last place without it.  With contracts signed Monday by the CCC,  Able Software unveiled  wireless ( no telephone needed) high speed internet service NOW and service around downtown Clay the first week in July . The entire county should have coverage by Feb. 2004. Up a hollow, off the beaten track, anywhere in Clay County, the service will be available for around $20 per month.
  • June 15 am Cathy Schuler raised issue with Clay County PSD dragging their feet and STILL no water service in Lizemores ( they've been waiting since 1995). Schuler informed the CCC that she knew of over 100 people with cancer or who have died from cancer in her part of the county. She felt the common link was crappy well water.  Here's an alert from Commissioner Sams, if the water line extension project money isn't used by the end of this year, the money will be PULLED and without $, you guessed it... the project is dead
  • June 15 am During the discussion on the naming a section of Rt. 4, Procious Maysel Road, Commissioner Bragg, " It don't matter much to me, I just hate to get sued...We're going to get sued."  Not sure what he meant by that statement but lawsuits have been expensive for the county with taxpayers footing the bill recently for faulty judgement.
  • June 15 am Still reading? Here's an alarming part. How would you like to call 911 and be told, Law enforcement will be there in two months! Just might happen
  • June 15 am All Departments at the Courthouse will have smaller budgets beginning July 1. Translation: Each department will loose 2 workers including the Sheriff's office
  • June 15 am Sheriff Fields has a different idea. Instead of laying off Deputies Chad Sizemore and Kevin Delk July 1st,  Fields plans to work law enforcement for 4 months and then lay them off for 2 months. That's 2 months of no road patrol, no response to domestic violence calls,...
  • June 15 am The high Sheriff's idea didn't go over to well with Sams and Triplett ( Bragg had already left the building). Of course Fields may have just been blowing smoke in an attempt to regain some $ from the CCC. Time will tell and soon. Layoffs take effect in just 15 days.
  • June 15 am  Not that we've haven't posted a bunch but waht there's more!!!!
  • June 15 am   Did we mention that CCC heard requests to ban ATVs from ALL county roads? True True True  And a new leash law too. Have we mentioned others considering running a write in campaign for Sheriff this Fall? More during the  next post clickers.
  • June 13 pm Tomorrow, the County Commission meets at 10 am. With Magistrate Jeff Boggs on the agenda to discuss weed whacker created damage done to his car recently, well, sure to be fun. And the question comes: Will Commissioner Bragg grace the meeting with his presence? It's 50/50 since he may come to claim credit for a $50,000 WV Budget Digest grant.
  • June 13 pm From this past week, some highlights...
  • June 13 pm From the land of politics, ex Senator Randy Schoonover made is home after several weeks in CAMC recovering from an ATV wreck that darn near killed him. Defeated in the May Primary Election, Jim Paxton, that's the old guy, put his hat in the ring as a write in candidate for Clay County Sheriff. Paxton says the fellow upstairs told him to do it. (See front page this edition of the Communicator for the real quotes) With Demo Paxton in as a write in, the guess is fellow Demorat Randy Holcomb and primary winner has his shorts all bunched up.
  • June 13 pm We buried a president this week after 6 days of dragging his remains from sea to shining sea. Those that remember the misdeeds and short comings of Reagan held their tongue as a our regulated media heaped the praises on Mr. Teflon.
  • June 13 pm  Without mention during the most recent Town Council meeting, Town Cop Buckshot Butcher was put back on the job Friday after being sworn in around 2pm June 11th.
  • June 13 pm Buried deep in the Courthouse record room in Webster County came word that Judge Jack Alsop had gotten himself trapped in IRS 1040 red paper and a lien totaling over $102,000.00 was slapped on 6 parcels of his property.
  • June 13 pm And we lost 64 year old Jack White one of our most colorful politicos and Clay County bank messenger boy for years. If there was ever a guy that knew what was going on behind the scenes, it was Jack. He will be missed
  • June 13 pm And as for the Filcon Industrial site debacle.... Word came late in the week that a $50,000 WV Budget Digest Grant has been received allowing the oft troubled Business Development Authority to reclaim the people's seized property.
  • June 12 am   Jackie Holland White, 64, of Clay see FUNERAL page
  • June 12 am  The Communicator made it to the news stands Friday afternoon around 4:30pm. Get em while their hot
  • June 12 am  Town Cop Buckshot Butcher quit his volunteer position around May 1st. Since then Mayor Jarrett has  served as law enforcement. Here's an interesting item.
  • June 12 am last night around 9:30pm Unit 10, that's Town law enforcement was heard 'I'll be 10-28".   It was Buckshot! During the Town Council meeting the first week of June, no mention was made of hiring back Butcher.
  • June 11 am We received word last night that Jack White passed away. We have no other info as of early this morning.
  • June 11 am New listings have been added to the CLASSIFIED and ADVISORY pages.
  • June 11 am There's tons of stuff going on this weekend. Go to the pool! Go help the folks cleaning up the Elk River. Walk over to the EVENTS page for more ideas.
  • June 11 am We've been mute this week on the President we're burying this evening. During times of loss, we try and forget weaknesses. While it's true Mr. Teflon reduced civil rights to minorities, reduced employee rights, outright lied about our death star satellite capabilities and more, he was able to get around all that with great wit and charm. Today we'll try and forget the short comings of our 40th President.
  • June 11 am If all goes well, The Communicator will hit the news stands around 4:30 this evening. Our front page story is an interview with write in candidate for Sheriff Jim Paxton. Get em while their hot!
  • June 11 am And to start your morning off on a lighter note.....
  • June 11 am Marriage is now a word, it's a sentence
  • June 11 am Many a man owes his success to his first wife and his second wife to his success - Jim Backus
  • June 11 am When I heated my home with oil, I used over 800 gallons a year. I have found that I can keep comfortably warm for an entire winter with slightly less than half that quantity in beer - Dave Berry
  • June 11 am When you come to the fork in the road, take it - Yogi Berra
  • June 11 am   If you don't know where you're going, you'll wind up somewhere else - Yogi Berra
  • June 11 am   Lady  Astor to Winston Churchill - Sir, If you were my husband, I would poison your drink!  His reply - Madam, if you were my wife, I'd drink it
  • June 11 am Brit and Sam, GET TO WORK!!!
  • June 10 pm We're typing our little butts off on Friday's edition of the Communicator. Unless there is some kind of emergency, no new posts until Friday evening late.
  • June 10 pm  Court room news: Remember Calvin Cottrell? One of the guys arrested for destroying the Dundon Ball Field Concession stand? Cottrell's preliminary hearing was heard by Magistrate Jeff Boggs early this afternoon. With Officer TFC ML Bailey no where to be found, all charges were dismissed without prejudice. Without prejudice means the charges can come up again if the Prosecutor so desires.
  • June 10 pm So  are you mad at Bailey for not showing up for Court duty? Don't be! Full details in Friday's Communicator. It'll cost you 50 cents to see who screwed up!
  • June 10 pm David Stone was arrested along with Christopher Pritt and Jason Triplett for their part in destroying the concession stand. Pritt plead guilty, Triplett's case has been sent over to the grand jury after he plead not guilty, and Stone's side has not been heard yet. On June 4th, Stone's attorney, Wayne King, was a no show.
  • June 10 am   We just got this email:  You failed to mention a wreck in Clay last Sunday.  A person pulled across the road in front of ALAN RAMSEY who was riding his motorcycle.  He sustained several broken bones and will be hospitalized for several months.  He has helped many people in Clay County over the years and we need to honor him with our blessings, and prayers. He is a patient in Charleston General Hospital.
  • June 10 am Thanks for the note and get well wishes to Mr. Ramsey.
  • June 10 am Just 29 days ago the voters selected Demorat Randy Holcomb and Republicat Dave Mullins for the Nov. General Election. All done. Two choices for Sheriff. Right? WRONG!
  • June 10 am Yesterday Jim Paxton (the one with the white hair) filed as a write in candidate for the Sheriff's opening. Paxton ran during the May Primary and finished back in the pack in the 11 person contest.    Isn't that interesting... two Demorats to choose from  in Nov. Think how that will change the complexion of the race.
  • June 10 am  Here's a rumor on the streets of Clayberry: Republicat School Administrator Kenneth Tanner came to the Clerk's office tried to late file for the County Commission race in May. Late filings require the Party Chair's Ok and Tanner didn't get it.  According to Circuit Clerk Mike Asbury, didn't happen. Tanner did not come to his office only to be turned away by the chair, ole what's her name.
  • June 10 am  The other rumor has Tanner running this fall as a write in candidate. No official word on that one yet. If Tanner gets certified as a write in Candidate ( Republicat) and Demorat Fran King along with already on the ballot, Mountain party candidate, Andy Waddell, What an election season it will be!!!
  • June 10 am There's changes coming this month at the Two Run Branch of the Clay County Bank. The bank is renting space to Lively Insurance Co and two attorneys.
  • June 10 am Clay County escaped much of the hail and rain damage during the storms over the last three weeks. None the less, Clayberry was declared a disaster area by Gov. Bob Bob Bob this week.  Of course, we've known this place has been a disaster area for years!
  • June 9 Later pm  Tonight's Jr. League baseball game at Maysel Park has been canceled. The last time we played the team, they got skunked 34 to zip.
  • June 9 pm  And some dandy news on ex Senator Randy Schoonover's daughter. Just got it:    Hi, just wanted to let everyone know that my dad gets to come home today. He will be released from the hospital sometime this afternoon. The doctors have given him the OK to come home as long as he goes back for therapy 2-3 times a week. He wanted me to tell everybody "thank you for your prayers, cards, letters and phone calls. They were very much appreciated." As expected he will be doing nothing but resting for the next week or so, but it won't be long before everyone will once again see him in the streets of Clay. Thank You so much everyone, Maria Schoonover-Thorne
  • June 9 am  For our international clickers, here in the land of Clay, school is out, kids are enjoying the first laid back days of summer. The hay has been cut and long hours are being put in before Thursday's predicted rain. The big things, mourning a President, stem cell research, men in space, well, they're just too distant. Caring for tomatoes, planting the annuals, and keeping the yard in check take precedence.
  • June 9 am  Three days ago, mention was made of new new crime activities for a few days.. taking the other foot out of my mouth, we received an email accounting Cunningham Motors in Ivydale getting the front door pounded out last Wednesday evening.
  • June 9 am Monday evening the Master Land Use Committee met to review a newly engineered plan to provide for Clay County's future when strip mining poots out. The master plan lays out what areas will be set aside for uses from commercial to industrial, to recreational to woodlands. Before you get all up in arms, this is not zoning as found in the urban areas of the country.
  • June 9 am Sometime this summer, a public hearing hearing will be convened before the County Commission gives the thumbs up or down on the initiative. Full details this Friday in The Communicator
  • June 9 am Last night Clay Jr. League held on to their undefeated season by tromping Kanawha Central. Tonight at 6, over at Maysel Park, the Clay team will be working the field again. Come out
  • June 9 am The local non profit radio station WYAP is heard around the world via the web. They just received a nice long distance email. Reading in part: Hello WYAP!    My name is Scott Holcomb, I'm from Lizemores and I am currently deployed to Iraq with  Charlie Company, 1st of the 150th out of Beckley, WV. I am a Sergeant in the Maintenance section, Tom Mills ,also of Clay County, is here also and is the company Executive Officer. He is also newly promoted to Captain.   Anyway, I just wanted to say Hello! and let you know that its great to here that Clay County finally has a radio station of its own. Keep up the good work. Montani Semper

  • Liberi, Sgt. Scott Holcomb
  • June 9 am  Now might be a good time to email one of our own serving in the rotten sand palace of Iraq. Here's the address of  one of Clayberry's finest, Sgt. Scott Holcomb: holcombscott2000@yahoo.com    You'll have to cut and paste, we haven't quite mastered the link thang yet for email use.
  • June 9 am  And for those that hate interesting thoughts, Only in America......can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.   Only in America......are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink.   Only in America......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.    Only in America......do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place.   Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?    Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?   Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons?
  • June 9 am And... When dog food is new and improved tasting, who tests it?  Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?   Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?   You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes?  Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?  Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?   Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
  • June 8 am Hello there Logan County Karen. Also thanks Carol B., Gene C., Glen D., Lyle, and poet Patty Andrews from NY.
  • June 8 am Providing it doesn't rain, tonight at 6pm the undefeated Clay Jr. League plays at home. Come out and enjoy
  • June 8 am In last week's weekend wrap up, we commented that no cars had been stole recently. We goofed. Last week, a 21 year old man's car was swiped from the Big Otter  Park n Ride while he was away working. Thanks Ms M for keeping us straight.
  • June 8 am Yesterday the clean up of the Elk got under way. The plan is to clean out all the trash and debris over the next two weeks. High water from recent rains kept the 20 some volunteers out of the water yesterday but didn't stop them from cleaning up gobs of junk in the Pisquah area.  If all goes well, they'll take to the river in boats Wednesday morning. they've got 14 days to clean up 43 miles of river bank.  Want to help? If you live along the Elk, clean up your own river bank! For others, if you can help out, call 587-4389. See EVENTS page too.
  • June 8 am Here's something to hack off all the conservative clickers. Walk over to the ADVISORY page for the latest US Supreme Court decision on legalizing pot. Take some Rolaids with you
  • June 8 am We mentioned  The Craft Mall at Two Run holding their Grand Opening a Saturday back. Not often you hear of a new business opening in the county. Here's another. KAT Communications opened in the old Seneca Grill building on Main Street Clay. Two NEW businesses opening in the same week!!!  In addition to renting DVDs and Video tapes, they've got tanning beds, a small inventory of electrical stuff for gaming and computers , can order about any electrical part you can imagine AND AND AND
  • June 8 am They've got Josh Taylor over there FIXING computers!!! Next time you get that black screen or those annoying glitches that bunch up your shorts, call 587-2246 and ask for  head honcho John Osborne
  • June 8 am And now something real interesting. The wheels of justice have been working on one of their own. According to Webster County Clerk records, the IRS filed liens against property held by Judge Jack Alsop and wife.  We checked it out Monday afternoon in Webster Springs.
  • June 8 am  Filed March 25, 2004,  6 parcels totaling $102,361.90 were attached. Some of the liens are from as far back as the 1996 tax year. One of the attachments, from the 97 tax year listed no dollar figures. More details this Friday in The Communicator.
  • June 7 am   It was a good weekend in Clayberry. No arsons, no stolen cars, no vandalism.. well that we've heard about anyway.
  • June 7 am Last night the power went off on Triplett Ridge before dark. As of 11pm, still no juice. No reports of car wrecks causing the outage either.
  • June 7 am Last week we asked for comments and direction after receiving some emails where the clickers said stuff like: I went to the "Clayberry" web site for the first time and became confused then disgusted. First, the Clay County Free Press gets a noticeably blatent "snub". How can the oldest newspaper of record, of Clay County, be ignored! Second, the news page reads like a distorted version of the New York Times. Facts are facts. I've not read such literary fertilizer since I made the mistake of visiting the N.Y.Times editorial page! You, like them, choose to either ignore the facts or are to lazy to do a little research (i.e. Iraq War progress). Third, I would like to know, is the sophomoric attempt at humor in "famous quotes" necessary? I doubt that I will ever visit this website again do to it's questionable content as it is a product of poor decision making and less than thourough credibility. I come from the Williams-Ramsey and Triplett-Boggs families of Clay County. All have a long and storied history there. It is a shame that we cannot show our pride of our hometown to others using this website. It would be nice to see a page where folks could post some feedback about your website's content, If you have the courage to post other opinions and points of view. Thanks to those that responded. With new comments in hand, we may tone down the jokes a little but for the most part, we'll keep on keepin on pretty much as we've been doin.
  • June 7 am   If you have an event you'd like posted, use the email link below. Ditto for classified ads, email please.
  • June 7 am  Tonight at 6 pm the Master Land Use Committee will convene at the Courthouse, Open to the public and air conditioned too.
  • June 7 am if you'd like to watch the construction of the new Single A Baseball Stadium in Charleston, they've got  a web cam set up. Updates every few seconds or so. Click WATCH EM BUILD IT for a visual.
  • June 7 am If you have an old record player that needs a new needle, click NEEDLE for an online source
  • June 7 am   IF you want to find  out info on any IRS 501-3-c organization, click FOUND IT. To see their financials view the Form 990 page. They require you to become a member but it's free and doesn't take but about 5 minutes to sign up.
  • June 7 am For a link to any and all state newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, click MEDIA GUIDE.
  • June 7 am For the background on Ivydale's Larry McLaughlin latest WV PSC complaint against Clay County PSD click NO WATER. We understand, Tuesday's public hearing has been rescheduled. Check before coming over June 8
  • June 7 am If you're interested in what Dubbya's oil war is costing the country, state and/or county, click $$$$ for an up to the second report.
  • June  7am And finally, one time Clay Roane PSD employee Dale Deems filed a formal complaint against his former employer. Click PSC for more.
  • June 7 am  We'll keep you posted as the week progresses. Stop back, you too Mr. Williams, if that is your name.
  • June 6 am Hello Sunday morning clickers. Welcome back to the only source of news of the goins on in beautiful Clay County West Virgnia in the Appalachian mountains. How about a wrap up on the week that was
  • June 6 am  There have been 935 coalition deaths, 825 Americans, 59 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, 18 Italians, four Poles, one Salvadoran, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and six Ukrainians, in the war as of June 4, 2004 .  There have been at least 4,882 U.S. troops wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.
  • June 6 am We graduated a few more than 100 seniors 7 days ago from Clay High but not before speaker Kenneth Tanner gave his political take on the country. Almost sounded like Tanner was running for office
  • June 6 am Sometime last weekend , Clay Middle School was vandalized and items stolen included scales and beakers. attempts to break into the school's safe failed.
  • June 6 am The week was filled with rain, hail, power outages, and telephone service disruptions. Gardens were beaten down. Surviving plants were beginning to rot. Gov Bob Bob Bob declared 7 counties disaster areas.
  • June 6 am State education purcurement artist Pork Chop Booth got nabbed. It looks like our llocal felon, JD Morris, may have ratted on Pork Chop. Wonder who will be next?
  • June 6am  Tuesday night, the Board was made aware, the days of Central Appalchia Empowerment (CAEZ) are all but gone. A new name , Champion Community, will not make up for the loss in set aside monies once available to poor communties like Clay.
  • June 6 am With Paige Willis stepping aside as Chair of the Clay County Business Development Authority (BDA) and Vice Chair Mack Samples already bailed out, our local group will soon have a new make up and direction. Thursday night it was pretty much accepted, the Filcon Industrial Site, which was purchased with $90,000 in taxpayers funds,  will get auctioned off to the highest bidder June 21st by the Clay County Bank.
  • June 5 11:46 am over the scanner from Clarksburg PA, to all law enforcement: Wanted, William Berry, black, 5'6", 140 pounds, DOB 11-27-83, Wanted for aggravated assault of police officer, easily slips thru hand cuffs, consider him armed and dangerous.
  • June 5 am That **!! rain continues!
  • June 5 am When you see Teresa Kerns today, tell her Happy Birthday! Better yet, call her 587-7753 and say Happy Naval Day. Kerns likes to sleep in on Saturdays so call her early!
  • June 5 am    Happy Anniversary Cathy! I Love You More Today Than I Did 11 Years Ago!  Love, Michael .
  • June 5 am There's lots of going on today in Clayberry, Check out the EVENTS page !
  • June 5 am Last night the Golden Apple folks hosted a traditional music show at the high school. The idea was to raise some $ to improve the fall festival. Fine music by the folks that know and lived it, our senior citizens. Tunes and styles found no where else on earth.
  • June 5 am Someone should have told the county! Despite the best efforts of the volunteers, fewer than 75  paid the $5 admission fee. How often it is, locals don't know what they've got until it's gone. Pitiful!
  • June 5 am For those wanting to send a get well soon card to our ATV challenged Randy Schoonover, do so at :  Randy Schoononover- CAMC, Charleston General Hospital - Room 226, Charleston, WV
  • June 5 am It's not often Clay County makes economic news in a positive light. Here's a nice one. Despite BDA Chair Paige Willis calling it not much more than a farm pond, it looks like the long awaited Dam Sampson on Bee Run will be built this summer. Commissioner Triplett commented that equipment for the construction project should be on site by mid June with the job to be finished by summer's end.
  • June 5 am  If all finally comes together, near the Clay/Roane border, we will end up with a 14 acre fishing lake. The lake, located real close to I 79, coupled with 1000's of acres of public hunting lands could be a real tourist draw encouraging development in the Wallback area.    Did the BDA or CAEZ in ANY way, work to make the pipe dream a reality?
  • June 5 am  Nope not one iota! With the lake promised 10 years ago by Fola Coal Co, one person made phone calls, wrote letters, called for action and basically was a pain in the butt to Fola and state government. That one person was community activist Fred Sampson.
  • June 5 am From Thursday night's Clay Roane PSD meeting... last month the water provider billed customers over $25,000.00.  Doesn't that sound like a lot of money? Yes, but not enough for the PSD to meet their bills. There's not enough $ to pay the bills.
  • June 5 am  Here's a real clinker. It costs the PSD $4.70 to treat and make 1000 gallons of water at their Procious water plant. The Town of Clay can wholesale them water for $2.61 per 1000 gallons. After months of dragging their feet, the PSD decided to give buying water a whirl. During Thursday's public gathering, the board decided to go back to making their own water, saying that it was cheaper! As a matter of fact, the office manager said "We lost $859 by buying water" Is anyone else scratching their heads?
  • June 5 am It was announced during the Clay Roane meeting, needed grant requests ($100,000) to complete the funding for the Punkin Ridge water line extension were turned down. In an attempt to get the 33 customer project back on track, the Board voted to go after a $100,000 loan to fill the funding gap.  A  loan? Yelp and according to the Chair that means a rate increase. Chair Postelwait commented that PSC Engineer Jim Weimer told her, the rate increase would be around $1.50 per customer per month. Remember, that's Weimermath. And by the way, all 500 Clay Roane customers will pay for a rate increase so 33 on Punkin Ridge can get water.
  • June 5 am One other little note on the Punkin loan. The loan will be used to pay off an old loan. They'll be using interest laden money to pay off already interest heavy loans.
  • June 5 am For our thirsty clickers in Roane County. It looks like the Amma Left Hand water line extension project will finally go to bid this July 15th. Sound nice? Sound like you're finally going to get some potable water? Yes you are. Did we mention more money is needed to do the job? Seems there is a nagging left over $295,000 debt from the Procious PSD bankruptcy that has to be paid off. That $295,000 plus the expected higher cost to build the 33 mile section of water line... well you got it. Another rate increase will be needed.
  • June 5 am If you are a Clay Roane PSD customer, put down that glass of water before reading this entry. When do you think was the last time ANY of the PSD's storage tanks were cleaned out of gunk, grime, sludge, mud, and crud? Postelwait said not in the 2 years she's been there. Dale Deems said he worked for the PSD for 3 years and the tanks were never cleaned out. Boardster Dave Saulsgiver felt that the slime had been cleaned out sometime in the last 8 years. Now go ahead and drink that glass of wa wa.
  • June 5 am and finally,  Question: Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? Answer: Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else  was in liquidation.
  • June 4 pm Sorry for the slow update. First some comments..
  • June 4 pm This posting info to the world is a crazy thing. We try to add a little of everything here. Over the last 12 months much attention has been spent on our crime problems, from kids breaking into Clay Elem. , Clay Middle, the ball field concession stand to arson to, shootings, well....  we've got it bad in Clayberry. About as much effort has been spent on dumb bunny antics and attitudes of our elected and appointed leaders in the county.
  • June 4 pm The confusing part is how web clickers receive the info. Some folks email that we should never ever write about the crime in the county, that we should not mention stupid decisions made by leaders, that such talk down grades us. Other bad mouthers write that our jokes are too raunchy and our slant on Dubbya's oil war is waaaaaaaaay off base, that anybody that speaks out against W is a communist.
  • June 4 pm How about some direction clickers, use the email link below and provide us some directions for this site. Here's your chance to rant and rave
  • June 4 pm There's a bunch of news from yesterday. When you see Julie P today, tell her she ought not flag down school buses and climb on top of them.
  • June 4 pm  We had two public meetings last night, the Business Development Authority (BDA)  and Clay Roane PSD. Both were enlightening to say the least. We'll post the BDA now and follow up late tonight with the Clay Roane stuff
  • June 4 pm Last night BDA Chair Paige Willis told the assembled that he would no longer be the group's Chair as of July 1 2004. Vice Chair Mack Samples resigned from the BDA. Members Clark Samples and Dave Pierson have missed enough meetings to get booted from the group.
  • June 4 pm The BDA's efforts to reclaim the Filcon Industrial site from the grips of public auction is not going well.  The BDA has sought $50,000 in grant monies to regain the property they originally paid $90,000 for just a couple years back.  It now appears that the Clay County Bank will auction off the swampy site June 21st.
  • June 4 pm The consensus of the BDA: The grant boys in Charleston have changed their attitude toward the BDA and no grant $ will come in time to save the 9 acres from the auction block.
  • June 4 pm In the way of  a Schoony update, from his daughter Maria and as of yesterday:  I was at the hospital yesterday (like I have been everyday), and told dad that I have been checking your website constantly, to keep updated on what is going on in the county. He wanted me to send you an update and let you know how he is. He has been moved from the "trauma Step-Down" unit, to the trauma floor.  He is doing great. The doctors have told him that he will be in the hospital at least another 60 days, and that is counting the rehabilitation he has to go through. The doctors have said that he is doing better than they could have imagined at this point, considering everything he has gone through. My dad is a fighter, just as my grandmother said. We never gave up on him, we (his family) knew if anyone could get through this, it would be my dad. I will continue to update you on his condition, and I will continue to keep my dad updated on what is going on here in the county, I even took him the communicator to read yesterday. He enjoyed every bit of it.   Thank You- Maria Schoonover-Thorne
  • June 4 pm For those wanting to send a get well soon card to our ATV challenged Randy Schoonover, do so at :  Randy Schoononover- CAMC, Charleston General Hospital - Room 226, Charleston, WV
  • June 4pm How about some bait... Last night during the Clay Roane PSD meeting, the Board voted to seek a rate increase to cover additional costs with getting the Pumpkin Ridge water line extension project off the ground. The rate increase will apply to ALL 500 Clay Roane PSD customers and not just the 33 folks wanting water on Punkin Ridge.
  • June 4 pm Here's some more candy to get you come back for more info late late tonight..  the Clay Roane Board also voted to ask the PSC for higher fees when they do water line road bores under  single lane ($500) and double lane ($1000) roadways
  • June 4 pm Late tonight clickers.
  • June 4 pm And now one of our off color humor items. Q. What was the greatest female financier in the Bible?   A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.
  • June 3 am  Roscoe Delbert Neal, 82, of Indore, see FUNERAL page
  • June 3 am And great big welcome back to Mr. Williams. Glad to have you on board
  • June 3 am This afternoon at 5 pm, our Business Development Authority will convene in the County Commission room. Air conditioned comfort and absolutely free to watch
  • June 3 am  We had a chance to talk to Hortense Schoonover Wed at noon. According to the Mother of ex Senator, Randy Schoonover, Schoony is a fighter and is making great progress since being rescued three weeks ago after an ATV wreck. Ms Schoony said her son was moved to an ICU "step down" unit two days ago and except for an oxygen tube, he is doing much better and is  alert.
  • June 3 am The recent storms have left their mark on the county. Many residents awoke Wednesday morning without electric or tele service. Bomont area was without power until mid Wed morning. Several in the Elkherst Road area were told their tele service would not be restored until Friday June 4th.
  • June 3 am Tonight Jr. League game scheduled for tonight has been changed until Friday evening at 6 pm. Come out Friday evening and see our undefeated hitters at work
  • June 3 am In Dubbya's oil war: There have been 928 coalition deaths, 818 Americans, 59 Britons, six Bulgarians, one Dane, one Dutch, one Estonian, 18 Italians, four Poles, one Salvadoran, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and six Ukrainians, in the war as of June 1, 2004
  • June 3 am Might want to check the EVENTS page, there's lots to do an see!
  • June 3 am So what went on during Tuesday's Town Council meeting? Not much. Whole thang lasted 6 minutes. No decision on a new cable TV provider, no mention of the recently filed lawsuit against an ex employee who according to the state auditor's office swiped over $6000; and not a peep about banning ATVs from the streets of the municipality
  • June 3 am How much did Clay Development Corp Director Betty Stalnaker make in 2002? Answer $52,356.00. According to their IRS Form 990, CDC took in $2,906,662.00 from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed related to the organization's charitable goals.
  • June 2 pm  Down below is mention of Tommy Young in deep doo doo in New York state. Things aren't much better in Lorain Ohio for the Murder Mountain resident. Click NO WHERE TO BE FOUND to see the court case there for Mr Young
  • June 2 am  Miles Alan Paintiff, 20 of Strange Creek, see FUNERAL page
  • June 2 am Last night during the CAEZ meeting, Llyn Drake engineered a $2500 grant for Clay County's only public picnic spot along the Elk, Spread Park. Drake cited the need for picnic tables, grills, repairs and mowing with her request. It worked too, CAEZ finally did something that benefit's the entire county. And it only took 10 years!
  • June 2 am Is CAEZ going out of business. Well, sort of, Yes. Only after questioning did the Board find out, CAEZ ,Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone, as well as all other enterprise communities and empowerment zones in the USA, will cease to exist Oct. 1 2004. All the set aside federal dollars and preferential treatments will also dry up. According to Director Sizemore, CAEZ will regroup under a Champion Communities designation.
  • June 2 am POLICE BLOTTER:  So did the badges round up all the little Clayberry thugs last week? Nope. Friday night thugs cut thru the chained shut glass doors at Clay Middle School. Inside , the criminals did NOT go after video cameras, TVs, DVD players, or the like. Instead, carted away were science lab equipment like beakers and scales. Wonder what they plan to do with the newly acquired items? They also made an attempt at breaking into the school's safe with no success.
  • June 2 am POLICE BLOTTER:  King's Wrecker towed in a stolen truck from Go Mart parking lot Sunday evening. We understand the truck was stolen from Mid State Chevy in Flatwoods several months back. Two lads were taken in custody.
  • June 2 am POLICE BLOTTER:  Word on the street has it that Tommy Young Sr and Jr are locked up in some NY state jail without bond. Charges stem from stolen cars and trucks as we understand it.
  • June 2  am Bad news on Randy Schoonover. Schoony remains in the intensive care unit and is no where near "out of the woods". The ex Senator wrecked his ATV 2 Saturday's ago and remained in the back country for 30 hours before emergency crews located him.
  • June 2 am Schoony had a set back Friday night May 28th when he went into arrest and the event was repeated Monday night June 1st.  Randy is one messed up puppy right now. Prayers would be in order
  • June 2 am And what brings clickers to this site? The juice and this juice is JD Morris juice. Morris got out of the Federal pen a few weeks back after serving 13 of an 18 month sentence for stealing funds from the local Clayberry Bank. According to Charleston newspaper reports, he got out early after providing  information to  the Feds. When that made the news, many butts were puckered up in Clayberry. The coffee house crowd asked: Who was his partner in stealing from the Clay County Bank??????
  • June 2 am Answers are starting to come! It appears that sticky fingered Morris ratted on state level buddies like "Pork Chop" Booth. Remember Pork Chop? The guy that sold furniture to school systems for 4 times their value?  For more, read a darn good wrap up on the HurHerald web site. Click, NABBING RATS for details
  • June 2 am  Today's a big hot dog sale on Main Street. See EVENTS page for all the good thangs going on around Clayberry.
  • Jine 2 am And finally gor this rainy morning from Woody Allen:   Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner,  you'd better have a good hand."
  • June 1 am   Cecil V Woods, Leatherwood, see FUNERAL page
  • June 1 am APB,  See ADVISORY page
  • June 1 am Hello Chaz  Hello Bud  Get back to work!!
  • June 1 am  "Women need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place."   Billy Crystal
  • June 1 am The ways kids see it: I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a Woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, "Mom! That lady isn't wearing a seat belt!
  • June 1 am Today Clay Town Council meets at 4 pm followed by the agency formerly known as the CAEZ at 6pm.  Council is considering banning all ATVs on the streets of Clay. Might be a good time to remind the elected ones what you think about that subject. The CAEZ Board doesn't even know the CAEZ dies this Oct as well as all the benefits to the area from the empowerment zone designation. 10 years of efforts and little to show!
  • June 1 am The ways kids see it: Zachary, 4, came screaming out of the bathroom to tell me he'd dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. So I fished it out and threw it in the garbage. Zachary stood there thinking for a moment, then ran to my bathroom and came out with my toothbrush. He held it up and said with a charming little smile, "We better throw this one out too then, 'cause it fell in the toilet a few days ago.
  • June 1 am On Thursday the Business Development Authority and the Clay Roane PSD go to task.  As the week progresses, we'll do our best to keep you informed. If you see something juicy be sure to email us using the link at the bottom of this page.
  • June 1 am  While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4- year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. The various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs, unfailingly intrigued her. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!"
  • June 1 am Last month 19,824 took a gander at this site. Thanks for the cyber visit.  For some real fun, spend some time in Clayberry for real this summer.
  • June 1 am On our LINKS page we've added a bunch of new newspapers from around the state for your surfing pleasure.  If you haven't walked over to the PHOTO page, we've added a bunch of new images
  • June 1 am  "Ah, yes, divorce, from the Latin word meaning to rip out a man's genitals

  • through his wallet"  Robin Williams